Phytotelmata are plant structures that collect and retain water, serving as natural larval habitats. Certain species of culicids utilize these water-holding structures for larval development, playing a crucial role in water retention and nutrient cycling, which benefits resident fauna in tropical forests, such as the Atlantic Forest. This study aimed to characterize the taxonomic composition, diversity, species richness, and abundance of mosquitoes within three types of phytotelmata in an Atlantic Forest remnant. Monthly monitoring of mosquito populations was conducted over one year, from March 2023 to February 2024, considering abiotic factors such as temperature, pH, and rainfall, which can influence mosquito larval growth and abundance. Sampling occurred
in randomly selected phytotelm habitats along trails within the study area. A total of 2,672 culicid specimens were collected, representing 11 genera and 29 species. The most abundant species were Wyeomyia artrostigma, Culex pleuristriatus and Onirion personatum (Lutz, 1904). Bamboo internodes yielded the highest abundance of
specimens (67.4%), followed by bromeliads (30.7%) and buttress roots (1.9%). This distribution pattern may be due to the varying suitability of different phytotelmata as larval habitats, with bamboo internodes providing more favorable environmental conditions for larval survival. Among types of phytotelmata, bamboo internodes had the highest species richness (22 species) and the largest total number of specimens, highlighting this habitat's importance for the development of many mosquito species. In contrast, buttress roots, despite having fewer specimens, showed the greatest diversity and evenness, indicating a balanced species distribution within this habitat. Kruskal-Wallis analysis revealed significant differences in species abundance among the types of phytotelmata evaluated, suggesting that mosquito population composition and abundance are habitat-dependent. These results support the idea that different phytotelmata offer distinct ecological conditions, influencing the occurrence and development of culicid populations. Notable among the species collected were Aedes albopictus and Haemagogus leucocelaenus known vectors of human pathogens. This study provides valuable insights into the mosquito fauna associated with phytotelmata in an Atlantic Forest remnant, contributing to our understanding of the diversity and ecological dynamics of these environments. Our findings also have public health implications, demonstrating the presence of vector species in a natural habitat, which could inform future research and disease control strategies.

The genus Leontopithecus includes primates endemic to the Atlantic Forest, with four described species, all threatened by habitat fragmentation and diseases such as yellow fever. This study aimed to characterize and quantify, both macroscopically and using histochemical, immunohistochemical, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and stereological techniques, the penile elements of the species L. rosalia, L. chrysomelas, and L. chrysopygus, establishing morphometric parameters and inter- and intraspecific variations. Thirty penises
collected from formalin-fixed cadavers from the Centro de Primatologia do Rio de Janeiro (CPRJ) were analyzed. Macroscopic analyses were performed at the Laboratório de Ensino e Pesquisa em Morfologia de Animais Domésticos e Selvagens at the Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ); histological analyses were performed at the Laboratório de Histologia Integrativa at the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ); scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was conducted at the Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem (CENABIO-UFRJ); and stereological analyses were carried out at the Laboratório de Biomorfologia Celular e Extracelular at the Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF). Macroscopic analysis revealed that the penis of the three species had three parts: root, body, and glans. The average penis length was 3.27 ± 0.43 cm in L. rosalia, 3.37 ± 0.50 cm in L. chrysomelas, and 3.12 ± 0.53 cm in L. chrysopygus. No significant differences in length were found between the species. The root of the penis showed variations in length and diameter among the species: L. rosalia had a length of 0.78 ± 0.17 cm and diameter of 0.64 ± 0.29 cm; L. chrysomelas had 0.90 ± 0.16 cm in length and 0.63 ± 0.24 cm in diameter; and L. chrysopygus had 0.72 ± 0.18 cm in length and 0.45 ± 0.10 cm in diameter. In the root of the penis, the cavernous bodies were dorsal, with collagen fibers arranged irregularly and surrounded by a tunica albuginea that formed a median septum. In L. rosalia and L. chrysomelas, smooth muscle fibers were present. The body of the penis also showed variations in length and diameter: L. rosalia had 2.44 ± 0.41 cm in length and 0.24 ± 0.06 cm in diameter; L. chrysomelas had 2.20 ± 0.42 cm in
length and 0.33 ± 0.10 cm in diameter; and L. chrysopygus had 2.01 ± 0.41 cm in length and 0.30 ± 0.05 cm in diameter. The glans was covered by keratinized stratified squamous epithelium with spicules, with dermal papillae observed in L. chrysomelas. Distinct forms and sizes were observed in the glans between species. In L. rosalia, the length was 0.23 ± 0.02 cm and the diameter was 0.23 ± 0.03 cm; in L. chrysomelas, it was 0.27 ± 0.05 cm in length and 0.31 ± 0.06 cm in diameter; and in L. chrysopygus, it was 0.27 ± 0.04 cm in length and 0.28 ± 0.04 cm in diameter. The glans had a triangular shape in L. rosalia and L. chrysopygus, and a mushroom cap shape in L. chrysomelas. The penile bone was located in the dorsal region of the glans in L. rosalia and L. chrysopygus, while in L. chrysomelas, it was located in the cavernous body to the right of the median septum. SEM analysis revealed differences in the spicules of the glans, which were conical and directed toward the proximal region. The spicules in L. rosalia were short and horizontal, while in L. chrysomelas, they were arranged in a crescent shape. This study investigated the morphology and structure of the penis in three Leontopithecus species, revealing anatomical, histological, and morphometric differences among them, such as variations in length, diameter of the glans, and morphology of the penile bone. The analyses showed that the species exhibited distinct characteristics, such as a smaller urethral and cavernous body area in L. rosalia and a larger penile body diameter in L. chrysomelas. The results provide new insights into the evolution of penile morphology in primates and pave the way for future investigations on sexual selection, reproductive strategies, and sperm competition. 

With the popularization of next-generation sequencing, it has become possible to study elements that were previously inaccessible for large-scale analysis, such as satellite DNAs. This has led to significant advancements in methods for studying these elements and better understanding their potential functionality and evolutionary dynamics. Therefore, aiming to describe the evolutionary processes of these sequences within the base of Actinopterygii, five catalogs of satellite DNAs were described in the order Acipenseriformes, with 224 new satellite DNAs distributed across five species, including 106 satellite DNAs shared among the species, most of which were in the genus Acipenser, supporting the prediction of the Library Hypothesis. Additionally, 12 highly conserved satellite DNAs (>95% similarity) were characterized, with five of these elements absent in the outgroup, indicating that part of this catalog of highly conserved elements deviates from the concept of concerted evolution, having originated prior to the diversification of this group 160 million years ago, with conservation at the order level, while other elements originated de novo within the order Acipenseriformes. Finally, the HindIII satDNA, already isolated in the genus Acipenser, was isolated in this study, while other satDNAs were found in potential regions of lncRNA or mRNA in unanchored scaffolds of Acipenser ruthenus.

Although tropical forests are home to most of the global diversity, they suffer from the most significant knowledge gaps concerning their fauna. Despite its high biodiversity, Brazil is facing an alarming destruction of habitats, with species becoming extinct before they can be discovered or described by science. Therefore, there is an urgent need to expand wildlife inventories, including entomofauna surveys. The present study aimed to analyze the bionomic aspects and the influence of abiotic factors on mosquito fauna whose immature phases develop in two bamboo species, Guadua tagoara and Bambusa vulgaris, in Tijuca National Park, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Immatures were collected in 10 artificially drilled bamboos, in five stalks internodes per plant, in two sampling points, from March 2022 to March 2023, during 23 collections. Every 15 days, the water from the internodes was removed through siphoning to obtain the immature ones, with concomitant measurement of pH and temperature. A total of 1845 immatures were obtained, 72.14% at sampling point 1 and 27.86% at sampling point 2. Of this, 1162 individuals reached adulthood, belonging to the following species: Culex
iridescens, Culex neglectus, Haemagogus leucocelaenus, Orthopodomyia albicosta, Sabethes identicus, Sabethes melanonymphe, Sabethes purpureus, Toxorhynchites bambusicola, Toxorhynchites sp., Trichoprosopon compressum, Trichoprosopon pallidiventer, Wyeomyia arthrostigma, Wyeomyia codiocampa, Wyeomyia lutzi, Wyeomyia oblita, Wyeomyia personata, Wyeomyia serrata, and Wyeomyia sp.. It was observed that the greatest abundance of immature mosquitoes occurred in the Guadua tagoara bamboo species, located at sampling point 1. The study revealed that higher dominance rates were observed in bamboos 2 and 10, with dominance of Orthopodomyia albicosta and Culex. neglectus. The greatest richness was observed in bamboos 1 and 5. It was found that Culex neglectus, Sabethes identicus, Wyeomyia oblita and Wyeomyia lutzi frequented all bamboo plants. The biggest peaks in the abundance of immature culicids were found in November 2022 and January 2023.The Tijuca National Park is a tourist spot and receives a large number of visitors. Thus, humans can become an accessible food source for mosquitoes in this area, making the species survey critical since important
arbovirus vectors have been recorded in Rio de Janeiro.

Reef environments are threatened by multiple disturbances, which operate at different spatial and
temporal scales that promote changes in the diversity, structure and functioning of ecosystems.
Understanding how reef fish assemblages respond to environmental and anthropogenic influences
in space and in the long term is essential to implement management strategies and reduce the
effects of biodiversity loss on reef environments. The present study aimed to investigate, through a
distance gradient from the coast, what changes occurred in reef fish assemblages after 10 years of
expansion of ESEC-Tamoios protection efforts. Underwater visual censuses were carried out on
rocky shores of Ilha Grande Bay, south of the state of Rio de Janeiro, on islands located across a
distance gradient from the coast in four periods, with the closest and intermediate locations being
the coast (area protected by ESEC) sampled in the periods of 2010 and 2019 and locations further
away from the coast (unprotected area) in the periods of 2010/2011 and 2015. An index (Human
Impact Index) was developed to quantify the level of human impact at the sampled sites within the
protected area. Fish assemblage parameters known to respond to long-term human impacts such as
habitat exploitation and destruction (fish assemblage structure, richness, abundance, and diversity
of trophic groups) were recorded, seeking to understand the protective effects of ESEC Tamoios
for the conservation of reef fish species. Multivariate Permutational Analysis of Variance
(PERMANOVA) and Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCO) were used to test and explore spatial
variation in fish assemblage parameters between reefs (near, intermediate, and far from shore) and
between periods (2010 vs. 2019 and 2011/ 2012 vs. 2015). The structure of the fish assemblage did
not vary between the periods at the closest and farthest sites from the coast to the coast, while
significant changes were recorded for the intermediate sites to the coast of restricted access
(PERMANOVA; P < 0.01). The results showed a marked temporal change in the composition of
the reef fish assemblage between the period of 2010 compared to the period of 2019, mainly in
intermediate locations on the coast (Ilha de Búzios). Species targeted by recreational and
underwater fishing were the most affected, especially Epinephelus marginatus (true grouper),
Mycteroperca acutirostris (Badejo-mira) and Sparisoma frondosum (Parrot fish), which were not
recorded in 2019. The trophic groups also differed between the periods, with greater emphasis on
carnivores, scraping herbivores and predators of motile invertebrates. The IIH value was higher in
locations close to the coast (Ilha do Sandri and Ilha da Samambaia), but also showed a high value
for intermediate locations (Ilha dos Búzios). The reef fish assemblage changed from a more diverse
structure, with a greater number of species and abundance of key and important groups for
fisheries, to a less diverse community, dominated mainly by predators of roaming invertebrates.
The decrease in the abundance of large predators and scraping herbivores species targeted by
fisheries indicates that efforts to inspect the marine protected areas of the BIG must be expanded,
in addition to applying more effective management measures.

Sandy beaches are dynamic ecosystems that shelter diverse marine biota with significant
ecological and economic importance. Despite their widespread distribution, there are
knowledge gaps regarding the characterization of biota and environmental influences for this
type of ecosystem. The aim of the present study was to investigate temporal changes in the
structure of juvenile fish assemblages on sandy beaches in the Ilha Grande Bay. Sampling was
conducted between the periods of 2002/2003 and 2017/2018, from January to December, in 6
sandy beaches defined based on geomorphological characteristics, continental drainage
influence, and human occupation. Fish were collected using a "picaré" net, measuring 12m in
length x 2.5m in height, with a mesh size of 7.5 mm at the center. Three perpendicular beach
seine hauls were conducted manually on 6 BIG beaches, corresponding to an approximate
area of 240m² per haul, during daylight hours. A total of 27,142 individuals weighing
26,072.70 grams were collected, representing 24 families, 25 genera, and 80 species. Families
with the highest representation included Sciaenidae (10 species), Carangidae (8), Haemulidae
(5), followed by Engraulidae, Gobiidae (4), and Ariidae (4). The most abundant species/taxa
were Atherinella brasiliensis, Anchoa spp, Trachinotus carolinus, and Menticirrhus spp.
Atherinella brasiliensis (65.35%) and Eucinostomus argenteus (9.39%) were the most
captured species, representing half of the captures for the families Gerreidae and Carangidae,
respectively. The second period recorded a higher number of representative families
compared to the first period 2002/2003, such as Engraulidae (66.71%), Atherinopsidae
(22.59%), Carangidae, and Gerreidae (>3.29%). Samples from the 2002/2003 period
associated with predictors of higher transparency and rocky outcrop mosaics corresponded to
7.9% of variation explanation for the species Trachinotus falcatus, Lutjanus synagris, and
Strongylura timucu, while the period from 2017/2019 was more associated with anthropized
areas and beaches influenced by the contribution of small to large rivers, environmental
conditions that favored a higher incidence of Albula vulpes, Anchoa januaria, Anchoa spp,
Eugerres brasilianus, Genidens genidens, Genidens barbus, and Cathorops spixii. The size
structure of species differed between periods, with smaller individuals (TL < 5 mm) abundant
in the period from 2017/2019, whereas in 2002/2003, there was a greater dominance of
species with TL >9cm, indicating a higher incorporation of juveniles into the sandy beach
community when temporal patterns are observed over the 15 years. Additionally, a
homogenization of fish assemblages with the dominance of Anchoa spp. species is noted. The
results highlight the importance of conservation and integrated management of coastal
ecosystems, considering the complex interactions between local environmental factors and
biological communities.

Urbanization is one of the main threats to biodiversity, causing environmental changes that facilitate the entry of exotic species and the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services. However, cities can also harbor a great biodiversity, primarily through urban green spaces such as squares. Ants are important organisms, as they play various ecological roles and canalso be used to monitor biodiversity changes caused by human activities. The aim of this study was to assess how the local characteristics of squares (e.g., canopy cover) and the landscape in which the squares are situated (e.g., forest cover) affect: (1) the native ant community, (2) different functional groups of native ants (e.g., fungus cultivators), (3) the exotic ant community, and (4) individual exotic ant species (e.g., Pheidole megacephala). The study was conducted in 30 squares, with 15 collection stations established in each square where sardine baits were placed on the ground and on tree trunks to collect ants. The quantity and configuration of forest cover were calculated for the 30 landscapes in which the squares
were situated. For each square, the mean canopy cover and tree diameter were obtained, and the density of trash bins was also recorded. Additionally, each square was categorized according to the degree of impervious surface, and air temperature was measured during ant sampling. Eighty-seven species were identified, eight of which were exotic. Squares with a higher occurrence of the exotic ant P. megacephala had lower occurrences of native ants and other exotic species. The occurrence of P. megacephala also negatively affected the richness
and occurrence of the functional groups of omnivorous litter and scavengers, omnivorous arboreal ants, and soil or litter dominant ants. The higher the degree of impervious surface in squares, the lower the richness of native ants and omnivorous litter and scavengers ants, and the lower the occurrence of P. megacephala. The richness and occurrence of generalist predators were higher in squares with larger tree diameters, and the richness and occurrence of arboreal predators were higher in squares with higher trash bin densities. Square size
negatively affected the richness and occurrence of all exotic ants. The species composition of ants differed  between squares with higher and lower occurrences of P. megacephala and with different degrees of impervious surface. These results suggest that simple strategies such as increasing canopy cover and soil permeability in urban squares can contribute to the conservation of native ant diversity. They also suggest that for the conservation of native ants in urban squares, it is important to mitigate the negative effects caused by exotic species.

Heteropia glomerosa was the most recent species of calcareous sponge to be recognized as exotic in
Brazil. It was first observed in Ilha Grande Bay, in the coast of Rio de Janeiro State, in 2005, and
since than, has spread across the Brazilian coast, commonly associated with port areas and artificial
substrates. Characteristics such as rapid reproduction, tolerance to different temperatures, and varied
habitats characterize its opportunistic behavior, and contribute to its rapid and widespread distribution.
Heteropia glomerosa is a multioscular sponge with several tubes connected to a base, achieving
variable sizes. In general, it has a fragile consistency, being susceptible to accidental fragmentation
events due to the movement of the structures to which it is attached or occasional contact with other
objects or organisms. In this study, we investigated the events after tube fragmentation in individuals
of this species, including the morphological processes of regeneration, reconstitution of polarity, and
resettlement capacity, in addition to determining whether there is competition for resources between
regeneration and reproduction. It was observed that H. glomerosa regenerates more quickly regions
whose absence can compromise the internal flow of water, such as the osculum. The oscular region
seems to be responsible for determining the polarity of the tubes, since small fragments of this region
tend to restore the original apical-basal axis of the species, while medium and large fragments present
varied results. In addition, we observed that isolated fragments are able to resettle when the substrate
and environmental conditions are favorable and we infer that regeneration does not interfere with the
reproduction of the species, since fragments in the regeneration process continue to reproduce
normally, presenting reproductive elements. These results show us that the species Heteropia
glomerosa not only survives and regenerates quickly, but also continues to contribute to the
population dynamics even after suffering injuries, being able to colonize new environments through
fragmentation. Therefore, the combination of these characteristics increases the invasive potential of
the species. Identifying and understanding the invasive potential of a species allows us to adopt
protective measures against possible future damage that may be caused to native biodiversity.

Nepomorpha (Insecta: Hemiptera: Heteroptera) encompasses the truly aquatic bugs.
Members of this infraorder display high morphological diversity, with oval and flattened
or rounded and globular body. Most of them are yellow to black, but some have colorful
body and specific spot patterns. The Brazilian fauna of aquatic bugs is poorly known in
most of the territory, with samples and studies concentrated in some states of the
southeastern and northern regions, while other areas remain underexplored. Such fact is
especially evident in Espírito Santo, where only 20 species had been recorded until the
development of this study. The objective of the present study was to know the diversity
and distribution of Nepomorpha from Espírito Santo, by obtaining specimens, recording
new occurrences, and elaborating a species list. A total of 1846 specimens belonging to
37 species and two subspecies have been examined, representing nine families and 19
genera. In total, 52 species, 21 genera, and nine families occur in Espírito Santo, of which
22 species, six genera, and three families (Helotrephidae, Micronectidae, and Pleidae)
are herein recorded for the first time from the state. Among the species present in the
state, 21 (40.39%) are endemic from Brazil, while 24 (46.15%) also occur in other South
American countries and Trinidad & Tobago, six (11.54%) are distributed throughout the
Neotropical region, and only one (1.92%) is widely distributed in the Americas, including
the United States.

The morphology of the brachial plexuses is closely related not only to the movement of the thoracic limbs but also to the locomotion of living beings that have them. Its comparative study provides information that allows us to understand how individuals of different species can interact within their group or with the environment in which they live (natural or captive). The objective of this research was to describe and compare the origins and antimeric distributions of brachial plexus nerves in three groups of lion tamarin species of the genus Leontopithecus. Thirty-two male lion tamarin specimens of the genus Leontopithecus (11 L. rosalia, 10 L. chrysomelas and 11 L. chrysopygus) were used, coming from the Non-Human Primate Breeding Service of the Primatology Center with different death histories and transferred to the Teaching and Research Laboratory in Morphology of Domestic and Wild Animals (LEPMADS) of the Department of Animal and Human Anatomy of the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro. Specimens were fixed with perfusion of 10% formaldehyde solution. The information found was represented through absolute frequencies and simple percentages. The ventral rami are composed of three nerve trunks and two fascicles: cranial, middle and caudal trunks; dorsal and ventral fascicles. The right and left brachial plexuses were derived from the ventral spinal branches C5 to T1 with different frequencies in their arrangements in the three groups studied. These arrangements had distinct contributions to the formation of the resulting nerves between species. Among them, those that supply the extrinsic muscles (subclavian, cranial pectoral, caudal pectoral, thoracodorsal, long thoracic and lateral thoracic), the intrinsic muscles (suprascapular, subscapular, axillary, musculocutaneous, median, radial and ulnar) and cutaneous muscles through the nerves medial cutaneous layer of the arm and medial cutaneous layer of the forearm. The data presented in this study allow us to contribute information regarding the evolutionary biology and conservation of primates, which are a group of great importance for the biodiversity of different ecosystems, in addition to being experimental models for public health research.

The Brazilian biodiversity, especially the insects, represents a significant challenge for science, given the gap between the known species and the estimates of species richness. This gap is more pronounced in aquatic insects, which are crucial for understanding anthropogenic impacts, habitat stability, and ensuring the quality of water resources. Among the Brazilian biomes, one of the least known and sampled is the Caatinga. It has a strictly national distribution, present in nine states in the Northeast Region and partially in Minas Gerais. Nevertheless, it is undersampled, possibly due to the perception that this semiarid region would not house great biodiversity, a hypothesis refuted by the high degree of endemism of fish and amphibians in this domain. A more in-depth knowledge of its biodiversity would fill distribution gaps, assisting biogeographical and conservation studies. In the country, there is a significant projection of insect taxa yet to be discovered, with many of them possibly becoming extinct even before being described. The order Hemiptera is among the most diverse in the national territory, with approximately 30 thousand registered species. Faced with the challenges posed by the accelerated extinction in the Anthropocene, new approaches are necessary to establish protected areas for these species. Among them, potential distribution modeling can assist in proposing regions for more effective and comprehensive protected areas, based on species records and environmental variables, a technique aligned with the magnitude of the Brazilian biodiversity. In this work, three new species of the infraorder Nepomorpha (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) were described, belonging to the genera Tenagobia (Micronectidae), Australambrysus (Naucoridae), and Ochterus (Ochteridae). Additionally, unprecedented distribution records for the infraorder were made in the states of Alagoas (28), Bahia (14), Ceará (14), Pernambuco (11), Piauí (7), and Sergipe (23). Furthermore, a key to the species of Notonectidae from northeastern Brazil is presented, and potential distribution models were generated for Belostoma anurum, Be. dallasi, Be. foveolatum, Be. micantulum, Be. plebejum, Buenoa amnigenus, Bu. fuscipennis, Bu. konta, Bu. mutabilis, Bu. platycnemis, Bu. salutis, Bu. tarsalis, Bu. unguis, Centrocorisa kollari, Gelastocoris flavus flavus, Heterocorixa wrighti, Lethocerus annulipes, Limnocoris pusillus, Martarega bentoi, Mar. brasiliensis, Mar. membranacea, Maculambrysus stali, and Notonecta disturbata. Additionally, critical areas for the conservation of these organisms in the Caatinga Biome were identified, based on their conservation importance calculated by the Zonation software and analyses of Kernel Density and relative richness. The mesoregions of Northern Ceará, Metropolitan Region of Fortaleza, Sertão Cearense, and Northeastern Bahia were highlighted as of significant potential richness for the infraorder.

The Atlantic Forest is an exceptionally biodiverse region that stretches across parts of Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. Human activities, such as deforestation, coupled with climate change, have the potential to severely harm this environment. These actions lead to habitat destruction and, as a result, cause ecological imbalances. They also disrupt mosquito communities, known as culicids, many of which act as vectors for pathogens responsible for diseases like Yellow Fever, Zika, and Chikungunya. When human activities encroach upon the natural habitats of mosquitoes, conditions become more conducive to their reproduction and survival, as some taxa exhibit adaptability to various environments, occurring in different types of larval habitats, thus increasing the risk of arbovirus transmission. This study, therefore, aimed to analyze the ecological aspects of Culicidae while simultaneously detecting the circulation of arboviruses in various remaining fragments of the Atlantic Forest across the municipalities of Casimiro de Abreu (Fazenda Três Montes), Silva Jardim (Sítio Terra Boa), Nova Iguaçu (Sítio Boa Esperança), and Cachoeiras de Macacu (Reserva Ecológica do Rio Guapiaçu) in
the state of Rio de Janeiro, and to assess the risk of emergence and transmission of arboviruses. Sampling was conducted monthly over three consecutive days between 2018 and 2023. Adult specimens were captured using CDC and Shannon light traps, as well as the protected human attraction technique (TAHP) using Castro traps. Immature specimens were collected with the aid of entomological shells, ovitraps, and polyethylene pipettes. Larvae and pupae were then pipetted and transferred into 250 ml plastic bags. This combination of traps provided a comprehensive and representative sampling of the diversity of adult mosquitoes present in the study area. Arbovirus detection was carried out through viral RNA extraction. From the start of the study up
until May 2024, 18,434 insects (1,418 pools) were processed. At Fazenda Três Irmãos, located in Silva Jardim, our observations of ecological indices revealed a significant positive correlation between the species Haemagogus leucocelaenus and Aedes terrens with abiotic variables such as temperature and relative humidity. Haemagogus janthinomys showed a positive and statistically significant correlation with rainfall
levels. The months of December 2020, November 2021, and January 2022 were identified as periods with the highest occurrence of culicid eggs in this location. Notably, the most abundant species found was Haemagogus leucocelaenus, with the majority of individuals recorded at altitudes of 2m and 6m. We detected the Yellow
Fever virus in seven pools and the Zika virus in five pools, both in 2019. Haemagogus  janthinomys was found to be of low abundance, possibly due to the species' requirement for multiple immersions for its eggs to reach the embryonic stage. Our findings indicate that abiotic factors such as higher temperature, relative humidity, and precipitation levels contribute to the multiplication of Culicidae and should be considered when developing strategies for the control and prevention of disease spread.

The genus Cycloramphus aggregates 30 species and for most of these species we only know the series of animals used in the description and almost nothing of their natural histories. In the few studies on the subject, reproductive behaviors, feeding aspects, intra and interspecific relationships are described. Even with the growing number of herpetologists in Brazil, few studies published in these areas are still produced, although these data are essential for several aspects involving conservation. The study of the natural history of Cycloramphuslithomimeticus made it possible not only to add several aspects of these dimensions and to make some important discoveries about the biology of this species. Visits for observation and data collection were carried out at the type locality of the species, at the itingussu waterfall in the Parque Estadual do Cunhambebe. At each visit, individuals were observed, sometimes recorded, photographed and some collected. Among the findings described in these studies, we emphasize habitat preference for both adults and larvae. The choice of spawning sites, with mosses and constant running water. We also observed predation of tadpoles by crabs and bedbugs, in addition to the presence of potential predators for tadpoles and adults, such as spiders and snakes. We also evaluated the behavior of individuals during the reproductive period and identified territorial disputes by males, in addition to displays indicative of lekking, as already identified for others. Clutches, which contain relatively few eggs, are partially protected by males and contain unfertilized eggs. In addition, the presence of tadpoles in almost all months of the year indicates that reproduction in this species is prolonged, however torrential rains can carry both tadpoles and spawning in some of the reproductive sites.

Acoustic repertoires can vary in time scale and may present changes influenced by the creation of new social alliances and/or changes in the acoustic landscape. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the changes in the acoustic parameters of the whistles obtained by the Guiana dolphin in Ilha Grande Bay over 10 years. This study uses as a basis a bank of acoustic recordings in Ilha Grande Bay from the years 2007-2008 and new recordings made in 2017-2018. To understand the temporal variation, the mean frequency, duration of whistles and emission rate in movement and foraging behavior were compared. In this study, it was identified that the emissions of this population show changes over time. These changes include an increase in maximum frequencies, little increase in minimum frequency and emission rate. These changes seem to occur in response to the fluidity of the rate of residence in the area and presence of calves evidencing the ecological importance of the area as a nursery.

The destruction of forest habitats generates extremely fragmented areas and alterations in
vegetation structure. This modifies the characteristics of micro-habitats and resource
availability, affecting the diversity of animal species. Ants have become an important
model for studying the effects of environmental disturbances on biodiversity because they
exhibit high abundance, diversity, and ecological relevance. Some ant species forage for
various resources on trees and shrubs; therefore, an analysis of vegetation structure can
help understand the diversity patterns of these organisms. Abiotic factors, such as
seasonality, can also influence ant community diversity. Based on this, the objective of
this study was to investigate the distribution of species diversity of ants foraging on
plants in fragments of secondary forests during different seasonal periods. The study was
conducted in eight forest fragments in the region dominated by semi-deciduous
ombrophilous forests in the Paraíba River Valley, State of Rio de Janeiro. Additive
diversity partitioning, β diversity partitioning, and canonical correspondence analysis
were used to measure the effect of seasonality and vegetation structure on the distribution
of ant species diversity. The rainy season positively influenced the diversity of ants
foraging on plants. Composition was affected by shrub leaf density in the rainy season
and tree diameter in the dry season. Each fragment preserved a different set of ant
species, and vegetation structure positively influenced ant diversity. These results
highlight the importance of conserving the majority of forest fragments to better preserve
the regional set of ant species.

Understanding how communities vary in space and time concerning environmental conditions
and abiotic factors is essential to promote waterbird conservation, either in natural or human-
altered areas. This work aimed to verify the effects of environmental heterogeneity and spatial,
temporal, and weather variation on the distribution and composition of waterbird communities
in continental wetlands. The community structure of waterbirds differed between lakes of
artificial, natural, and temporary origin. Richness and abundance increased with increasing lake
area and distance from human settlement; however, they decreased with increasing depth and
extension of open surroundings. Abundance was also influenced by pH, increasing in sites with
less acidic pH, and semi-shaded surroundings and grazing pressure, decreasing the number of
individuals with the increase of these two variables. The environmental variables with the
greatest contribution to the distribution of guilds were the lake area, pH, semi-shaded
surroundings, distance from human settlement, macrophyte, and aquatic vegetation height. On
the temporal scale, richness remained relatively stable, however, abundance increased over
time. Temporal trends were also identified in species composition and dispersion patterns.
Precipitation and temperature did not influence richness, indicating that the high number of
resident species contributed to a relatively constant richness over time. However, variation in
species abundance was inversely related to precipitation and temperature levels, which also
influenced environmental conditions acting on the availability of resources and foraging sites
for waterbirds. The results suggest that aspects of community structure, richness, abundance,
and guilds, are uncoupled and respond in an independent and shared way to the effects of
environmental and anthropic variables in inland lakes. Therefore, these aspects must be
considered in a common framework when analyzing changes in the structure of waterbird
communities.

Tropical and subtropical forests are being highly impacted by human actions, with
restoration being a human responsibility. The restoration of degraded areas has been
consolidating itself as an important strategy for environmental adaptation, becoming of
paramount importance in the conservation of local and regional biodiversity. To enhance
the success of the restoration, it is important to ensure good planning of all stages, which
includes the selection of tree species to be introduced, as in the case of active restoration.
Tree species have a distinct ability to alter abiotic and biotic conditions, and a single tree
species can be associated with a wide range of fauna. Thus, a better understanding of the
interactions of tree species used in reforestation of tropical areas with other organisms and
what are the effects of their characteristics on the community that live below their canopy
is very important to achieve successful restoration of reforested areas. This work consists
of three chapters that approach biological data in a different way, all with the objective of
analyzing the influence of four tree species on the community that lives below its canopy.
In the first chapter, which addresses the effect of tree species on the arthropod community,
tree species did not directly influence the arthropod community, but these effects are being
driven by indirect relationships. In the second chapter, tree characteristics mediated their
effect on ant species composition. However, this effect is not as clear as the richness of ant
species and composition of functional groups. In the third chapter the environmental
variables, often linked to the identity of the tree, are preponderant for the relationship of
the biological community, more specifically ants, other arthropods and regenerating plants.

The Atlantic Forest is one of the priority biomes of the World to be restored. Approximately 70% of the Brazilian population depends on the ecosystem services of this biome, however, it is at a high level of threat and risk. Marambaia Island is a conserved area of this biome, located on the Costa Verde coast, south of the State of Rio de Janeiro. Knowledge of the ecology of wild birds is extremely important for the conservation of the Atlantic Forest and, therefore, Marambaia Island. Free-living birds coexist with numerous parasites in conserved environments, but they tend to suffer from parasites, especially coccidiosis, when in impacted environments. Coccidiosis is a disease caused by coccidia chromists, which form a diverse and complex taxonomic group. The Passeriformes order is mainly parasitized by coccidia of the genera Isospora and Eimeria, which belong to the Eimeriidae family. In this context, the main objective of the present study was to identify (morphologically and molecularly) and quantify coccidians parasites of wild birds of different species, families and locations within and adjacent to Marambaia Island. In this sense, this thesis presents a review of the scientific literature on the themes of ecology and taxonomy of coccidians of wild birds, and in chapters I, II and III, morphological and molecular identifications of coccidian species from wild birds captured in and around Marambaia Island, including a new species named Isospora juruviarae Andrade & Berto, 2023. Finally, chapter IV covers the survey and monitoring of identifications and densities of coccidians in the different orders and families of wild birds captured in and around Marambaia Island in the period from 2019 to 2023.

The Order Rodentia has a greater number of species, with significant diversity occupying different environments, habits and ecological niches. Studying comparative anatomy can provide information that will serve as a basis for large areas of biological sciences and biomedicine, and, based on this premise, the study aimed to describe the morphology of the S. Villosus hedgehog penis. Fifteen specimens donated by the Serra dos Órgãos National Park to the Department of Animal and Human Anatomy of the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ) were used. hese were fixed with perfusion of 10% formaldehyde solution, placed in polyethylene boxes and,later, dissected. The dissections were carried out with an incision in the preputial ostium and all the surrounding skin involving the region and the entire circumscribed area along with the perineal region, in order to expose the genitalia, as well as observe the anatomical regions of the penis, its morphology and the static muscles. From the anatomical characterization in loco, the penises were excised at the root and taken to the Integrative Histology Laboratory (UFRJ) to be included in the histological routine and histochemical and immunohistochemical techniques were performed.The macroscopic and microscopic findings of the penis of Sphiggurus villosus, allowed the identification of muscles. ischiocavernous and bulbospongiosus, constituting the root of the penis (radix penis). This cylindrical structure follows cranially arranged being continuous with the body (penis body). From each sample, cuts were made from the region of the penis body with 5 micrometers in thickness each, for each type of coloration. Hematoxylin-eosin, Mallory's Trichrome, orcein and Picrosirius red stains allowed the characterization of the elements of the extracellular matrix. The immunohistochemistry technique with anti-alpha-actin antibody was performed to mark the muscle cells. Scanning electron microscopy allowed the characterization of the surface of the penis of S. villosus, demonstrating the disposition and morphology of the spinous protuberances in the region of the glans penis. he results of the histochemical and immunohistochemical analysis of the penis of S. villosus revealed a musculocavernous type of histoarchitecture. he results of this research allow us to understand aspects of the reproductive behavior of these species, in order to improve the management of animals in captivity.

The world production of plastics has increased very quickly in the last 50 years, with emphasis on the Chinese production, responsible for ¼ of the world production. To date, no environmentally friendly method is available to dispose of plastic waste, which accumulates in landfills or is scattered as microplastics.
In this context, biodegradation emerges as a sustainable alternative, as it consists in the mineralization of these materials through submission to microbial metabolism. Current research has reported that some coleopteran species are able to degrade plastics with the aid of their chewing mouthparts and the metabolic activity of their intestinal microbiota. This study shows that Alphitobius diaperinus is able to feed on and apparently degrade polystyrene. The metabolic profile of larvae fed with poultry feed, submitted to absolute fasting and fed with polystyrene were characterized. As well as monitoring their development, dry weight and digestive tract integrity.
More than 60 metabolites were found and among them the metabolites of the polyalcohol, nitrogen and amino acid classes in A. diaperinus larvae submitted to fasting and in the Polystyrene (PS) diet had a significant increase in relation to larvae fed with ration for birds. Showing that even if they were able to chew/crush polystyrene, the metabolism of larvae fed with PS is very similar to that of larvae in fasting condition.
Despite this, this research supports the notion that while synthetic molecules, unlike most natural compounds, do not generally enter the natural food chain to be degraded by environmental microbiota, some species of alternative plastic degraders may be able to decompose plastics. In view of the results found, it appears that the present study will contribute in the long term to provide an adequate, sustainable and profitable management of these post-consumer materials.

Understanding the influence of spatial scales on biodiversity is essential to determine which
conservation measures should be implemented at the sites in a region. Reef fish are a
fundamental component for the functioning of reef ecosystems and have been threatened by
impacts that occur at local and regional scales. Detecting which spatial scales are associated
with greater variation in assemblage composition is crucial to identify the processes in the
habitat that promote this pattern and propose effective conservation measures. The objectives
of this study were: (1) to quantify the spatial variation of reef fish assemblages at scales from
tens of meters to tens of kilometers, and (2) to determine whether there are patterns of beta
diversity at these spatial scales. The tested hypotheses were that (1) there is a positive
association between habitat heterogeneity and beta diversity, and (2) that smaller spatial scale
leads to greater heterogeneity and beta diversity. These components of fish assemblage
diversity (beta diversity) and habitat (habitat heterogeneity) were evaluated at a local spatial
scale (between transects of sites) and a larger spatial scale (between sites of regions). Five
regions were established in Ilha Grande Bay, with 2 covering deeper locations and increased
distances from the coast (Ilha Grande and Canal Central), and 3 with shallower locations, close
to the coast and under estuarine influence (Ribeira Bay, Mambucaba and Paraty). At each site,
4-6 transects were sampled, totaling 289 transects. The difference in fish assemblage structure
across spatial scales was tested using permutational multivariate analysis of variance
(PERMANOVA) based on the Bray-Curtis index. The variation in species composition across
spatial scales (beta diversity) was tested with analysis of the Homogeneity of Multivariate
Dispersions (PERMDISP) based on the Jaccard index, while the components of nestedness and
turnover were obtained by the BetaPart package. The greatest variability in fish assemblage
structure occurred between sites within each region (Pseudo-F = 3.9, p=0.0001, ECV = 26%).
Distance from the coast and benthic cover were the best predictors of assemblage structure. An
assemblage of predatory fishes of mobile and carnivorous invertebrates characterized the
samples from the Ribeira and Paraty bays, while a richer assemblage with fish from multiple
trophic groups represented the samples from the Central Channel, Ilha Grande. Beta diversity
varied within sites (F=4.241, P=0.0001) and regions (F=4.7173, p=0.0163). However, the local
scale presented the highest Jaccard dissimilarity, with the turnover component as the main
contributor, while in the regions the Jaccard dissimilarity decreased, and the contribution of
turnover and nestedness were more uniform. Beta diversity was positively correlated with
habitat heterogeneity (p<0.01), with the Ilha Grande sites being more heterogeneous compared
to the Ribeira and Paraty bay sites. The variation of the fish assemblage at the scale of the sites
was associated with the heterogeneity of the habitat, while the impacts associated with the
influence of rivers and proximity to the coast were associated to assemblages’ differences at
the scale of the regions. Conservation measures should consider the heterogeneity of habitats
and the usage history at the scale of sites, and actions that minimize the effects of broader and
more diffuse impacts at the scale of regions.

new approach for visual fish survey in reservoirs using underwater drones (remotely operated vehicle- ROV) is presented. The ROV was applied to identify abiotic gradients and to compare fish assemblages on the steep slopes in a tropical reservoir. The tested hypothesis is that fish are concentrated in the littoral zone due to the better physicochemical and habitat conditions, compared to deep and hypoxic layers. Twelve species were recorded (seven native, five non-native, with all species occurring in the littoral zone (1-7 meters deep), seven species in the transition (7-15 m), and four in the profundal zone (> 15 m). A greater fish abundance and richness was found in the littoral zone corroborating the hypothesis. The littoral zone was dominated by non-native cichlids (Cichla spp., Coptodon rendalli), while native catfish (Loricariichthys castaneus, Pimelodella lateristriga) occupied deeper areas. The fish distribution seems to be driven by local factors, such as oxygen availability and habitat structure. The preference for the littoral zone by alien cichlids may have led to the extirpation/decrease of native characids and induced catfishes to occupy deep habitats. Underwater drones can be a valuable tool for the simultaneous collection of abiotic/biotic data, especially in deep reservoirs with complex habitats, resulting in advances in the environmental monitoring of inland waters.

Among the organisms that are found in the litterfall, the ants stand out for their abundance, frequency and diversity. The litterfall is a food source and shelter for many ant species. In forests, the amount and quality of the litterfall should vary temporally and spatially. These variations are connected to the phenology of the different species of trees that are found in tropical forests. The presented research had the objective to verify if the pattern of the ants assembly diversity under the treetopof diferente tree species used in reforested sites of Atlantic Forest is influenced by the collection techniques. The techniques used for ant collection were the Winkler extractor and the fall trap (pitfall). Fifty four species and twenty-three ant genres were collected in a total of forty four samples of each technique. The effect of the collection technique on the species richness was marginally significant, but there weren't statistically significant effects of the species or functional group of trees or significant effect of the interaction between trees and the collection technique. The composition of the ants assemblies in the samples was as influenced by the trees species as the collection technique, but there wasn't statistically significant interaction between the two factors. The association of collection techniques are demonstrated adequate to evaluate the richness and the ants composition of the studied site, corroborating with the literature.

Dams construction blocks lotic systems, creating physical barriers that modify the physical-chemical local conditions and alter the flow regime. The new environment formed prevents the free migration of the ichthyofauna and other aquatic organisms that inhabits the lotic environment that need to pass through the filters of the lentic environment. This environment, with lentic characteristics, facilitates the entry of non-native species, which may lead to the extinction of native species, especially those that are more specialized and more sensitive to new environmental conditions. Damming of tropical rivers has been one of the main threats to aquatic biodiversity, and it has occurred on an unprecedented scale. One way out for medium and small rivers is the construction of Small Run-of-Run Hydroelectric Power Plants (SHPs), as they present reduced flooding areas and do not form large reservoirs. However, the real influence of SHPs has been questioned as to their effects in ichthyofauna compared to large dams. In this context, the present study aimed to evaluate the influences on the ichthyofauna of two PCHs built in the middle section of the Paraíba do Sul River, a lotic system of great importance for the water supply of the state of Rio de Janeiro. This study aimed to assess influences on the ichthyofauna of two Small Power Plants (SPPs), built in the middle section of the Rio Paraiba do Sul. Three periods were selected: 1) a period with a totally lotic scenario, before the construction of the two SPPs (2008 - Pre); 2) a period immediately after the construction of the PCHs (2012 - Post); and 3) a period of a decade after the construction of these dams (2021 - Current). Seasonal comparisons were also made among three hydro-environmental conditions: 1) wet, between January and March; 2) dry, between July and August; and 3) transition, between September and October. To assess these changes in ichthyofauna, taxonomic and functional β-diversity were used, since they assess changes in species occurrence and serve to assess both species/function replacement (turnover) and species/function loss (nestedness) in relation to the pool available regionally. For the determination of 10 functional tracts, 12 quantitative morphometrical measures related to habitat use, feeding and locomotion of the species were taken. That ichthyofauna composition varied between periods, although seasonal variations were less conspicuous. Higher richness was recorded in the Post and lower in the Current period. Abundances decrease considerably in the Current period. The taxonomic and functional β-diversity increased over the three periods, with the taxonomic having increased significantly in the Post period and remained without significant differences in the Current period. On the other hand, the functional β-diversity was similar between the pre and post period, with a significant increase in the current period. The replacement component (turnover) was the one that most influenced the results of taxonomic and functional β-diversity, whereas no significant temporal differences were observed in the loss of species component (nestedness). There was a process of the ichthyofauna heterogenization over the periods, with an increase in taxonomic and functional B-diversity associated with a decrease in richness and abundance. Our study indicates that the ichthyofauna is undergoing a re-structuration process, due to the appearance of tolerant species and the replacement of native and sensible species, which results in function replacement after one decade of operation of the SPPs. This suggests that small-scale enterprises such as PCHs are harmful to the ichthyofauna, due to the changes in habitat, or the appearance of non-native and generalist species. Little is known about the real effects of PCHs on ichthyofauna and our results suggest that it is important to understand these changes, as they can be harmful to ichthyofauna. It is suggested to expand these studies in order to provide a basis for biodiversity conservation measures in environments affected by these projects.

Hemiptera is a monophyletic group of insects whose main synapomorphy is the
modification of the mandibule and maxilla into concentric piercing-sucking stylets, with
the labial and maxillary palps being absent. The order gathers four suborders, among
which only Heteroptera has aquatic representatives. Heteroptera is monophyletic and
has three main synapomorphies: the scent gland apparatus of the metathorax in adults,
the dorsal abdominal scent gland apparatus in nymphs, and a strong reduction of the
tentorium (internal chitinous scaffold of the head). Representatives of the infraorder
Gerromorpha are known as semiaquatic heteropterans, or true bugs, and occupy a wide
range of environments, such as humid terrestrial habitats, not necessarily close to water
bodies, phytotelmata, habitats marginal to freshwater bodies or their surface, coastal
marine habitats, and even the open ocean. Among the families of Gerromorpha,
Hydrometridae currently includes three subfamilies (Hydrometrinae, Heterocleptinae e
Limnobatodinae), with ten extant genera and about 130 species distributed worldwide,
except for Antarctica, and 11 fossil genera, the oldest of which is dated from the Lower
Cretaceous. For the present study, a phylogenetic analysis of Hydrometridae was
performed based on morphological characters. The outgroup was formed by four
families of Gerromorpha considered closely related to Hydrometridae in previous
studies, while the ingroup gathered eight of the ten recent genera of the family, in
addition to two undescribed genera from islands of the Pacific. At total, 110 characters
(68 binary and 42 multistate) were described and coded, several of which were
illustrated in order to facilitate their interpretation. The phylogenetic analysis was
performed through heuristic searches with equal weights using TNT 1.5 no taxon limit
and by Bayesian Inference using MrBayes 3.2.2. The monophyletism of Hydrometridae
was not recovered, because Veliometra Andersen, 1977 (Heterocleptinae) was
recovered as sister-group to Macrovelia hornii Uhler, 1872 (Macroveliidae).
Hermatobatidae was recovered as the sister-group of Hydrometridae. Hydrometrinae
was not recovered as monophyletic due to the position of Limnobatodinae as the sister-
group of (Bacillometra Esaki, 1927 + Hydrometra Latreille, 1797), being closer to them
than other genera integrating the former subfamily. The subfamily Heterocleptinae,
including two recent and two fossil genera, is transferred to Macroveliidae. The
remaining three recent and one fossil genera attributed to Macroveliidae are allocated in
Macroveliinae. Two new subfamilies are erected to include genera previously allocated
in Hydrometrinae, Cephalometrinae (type-genus: Cephalometra Polhemus & Ferreira,
2018) and Chaetometrinae (type-genus: Chaetometra Hungerford, 1950). Considering
the recent genera, Hydrometrinae now includes only Bacillometra, Hydrometra, and
Bacillometroides Polhemus & Polhemus, 2010. The fossil genera that remain attributed
to Hydrometridae are all allocated in Hydrometrinae, some provisionally until they are
evaluated in a phylogenetic context.

The present work aims to study the taxonomy of monogenetic parasites of marine fish
in Peru and Brasil. Between March 2018 and December 2019, two species of
elasmobranch fish were collected, Hypanus dipterurus (Jordan and Gilbert, 1880)
(Dasyatidae) and Pseudobatos planiceps (Garman, 1880) (Rhinobatidae), and five
species of sciaenids, Cheilotrema fasciatum Tschudi, 1846, Menticirrhus elongatus
(Günther, 1864), Nebris microps Cuvier, 1830, Pareques lanfeari (Barton, 1947) and
Stellifer minor (Tschudi, 1846). Host fish were obtained fresh from local fishermen and
immediately analyzed for the presence of parasites. The monogeneans found were
analyzed morphologically through light microscopy and some specimens were
genetically analyzed. In the first chapter, two species of monogeneans of the family
Monocotylidae, Peruanocotyle chisholmae Chero, Cruces, Sáez and Luque, 2018
(Dasybatotreminae) and Heterocotyle margaritae Chero, Cruces, Sáez, Santos and
Luque, 2020 (Heterocotylinae), were described from specimens collected from the gills
of H. dipterurus based on morphological data. In addition, a new species of
Loimopapillosum Hargis, 1955 was described also parasitizing the gills of H. dipterurus
based on morphological and molecular data. The phylogenetic position of the new
species of Loimopapillosum was investigated based on the partial sequences of 18S and
28S rDNA genes and sequences of others monogeneans obtained from GenBank. As a
result of this analysis, the Family Loimoidae Price, 1936 is rejected and included as a
subfamily in the Monocotylidae. Loimopapillosum pascuali Chero, Cruces, Sáez,
Oliveira, Santos &amp; Luque, 2021 represents the first species of this genus in South
America. In the second chapter, two monogeneans species of the family Hexabothriidae
Price, 1942 were found in the gills of two species of elasmobranch fish. The first
species, Hypanocotyle bullardi Chero, Cruces, Sáez, Camargo, Santos and Luque, 2018,
was described from H. dipterurus and the second species Rhinobatonchocotyle pacifica
Oliva &amp; Luque, 1995 was found from P. planiceps and a redescription is provided. For
both species of Hexabothriidae the sequences of the 18S and 28S rDNA genes were
provided. In the third chapter, a new genus from the family Diplectanidae Monticelli,
1903 is proposed and eight new species are described from the gills of sciaenid fish.

The use of null models in analyzes of co-occurrence patterns has become a viable alternative
to study the rules that govern the assembly of communities. Local communities are formed
from the regional species pool under the influence of several factors. Our study investigated
some factors that may influence the formation of local ground-dwelling ant community using
presence/absence matrices obtained from a planted forest in southeastern Brazil. We analyzed
occurrence patterns of 52 ant species according to ant guilds, habitat types, sampling time,
and randomization algorithms. The random pattern of species distribution predominated in the
community, making up 70% of the results, followed by segregation, with 21.7%, and
aggregation pattern, with 8.3% of the results. Non-random co-occurrence patterns were more
frequent for omnivorous ants, heterogeneous habitats, dry period, and fixed-fixed
randomization algorithm. The frequencies of aggregation and segregation were almost the
same between ant guilds, with segregation patterns prevailing in all cases. Heterogeneous
habitat matrices showed much more segregation than aggregation of species pairs, whereas
the results for the homogeneous habitat matrices were dependent upon tree species. Regarding
the sampling time, we found only segregation in the rainy, whereas in dry period, aggregation
and segregation patterns occurred with small differences in frequencies. Aggregation species
co-occurrence patterns of ants were never found in fixed-fixed algorithm. Our results showed
the importance of analyzing several factors when using species co-occurrence patterns to
understand the formation of local communities. Although ant community demonstrates in
most cases a random structure in the distribution of species pairs, even working in a small
spatial scale, we found evidence in favor of the tree specialization hypothesis, suggesting the
importance of using different tree species in restoration projects to recover the diversity of ant
species.

Coastal lagoons are shallow water bodies separated from the sea by any type of barrier or with limited connection with the marine environment through natural or man-made channels. Due to the high productivity, these ecosystems shelter distinct communities as fish and benthic invertebrates, which shows high economic and ecological value. The aim of this work was to evaluate the variation in the structure of the ichthyofauna and benthic invertebrates over environmental gradients during dry and rainy seasons, in addiction to assess eventual association between both biotic groups in the Maricá Lagoon System, located at Maricá city, Rio de Janeiro State. The tested hypothesis  is that environmental variables determine the fish and benthic invertebrates’ distribution and that these variables are s influenced by the distance from the sea connection, and that these two communities present significant association Three zones were established  to the sampling program according to the distance from the sea connection: Inner Zone (IZ, more distant from the sea conection), Middle Zone (MZ) and Outer Zone (OZ, closer to the connection with the sea ). The collection of biotic material and the environmental variables measurements occurred in July 2018 (dry season) and January 2019 (rainny season). The fish community structure differed significantly among zones, seasons and was significant for the interaction between these two factors (p < 0.05). Higher fish abundance was found in IZ and lower in OZ. Atherinella brasiliensis and Anchoa januaria were the species with most contribution in all zones and seasons. Temperature and salinity were the variables that presented the greatest independent explanatory power among the predictors of species richness (49.29 % and 18.29%, respectively) of the fish community, showing negative and positive correlations, respectively. The benthic invertebrates were significantly different among all studied factors. The greatest abundance was found on IZ and the lowest on OZ. Nereididae were the polychaetes family with most contribution on dry season and on inner and middle zones. Oligochaeta was the invertebrate group that most contributed on rainy season. Capitelidae presented most contribution on OZ. Concerning the benthic invertebrates, salinity and temperature were the variables with greatest independent explanatory power (40.47% and 18.85%, respectively). Contrarily to fishes, salinity showed significantly negative correlation and temperature showed positive correlation with benthic invertebrate. The correlation between these two groups was significative but low, even after the environmental variables control. Fish and benthic invertebrates that share the Maricá Lagoon System are submitted to similar environmental conditioning, that seem to act in different way for each group. Most of the explained variation of the fish community was associated with effects shared by environmental variables and by the spatial-zone structure (16%), and a negligible fraction was explained exclusively by invertebrates (1%). Considering benthic invertebrates, larger fractions (18%) were associated with the effects shared by the three factors (fish, environmental variables and zones), in addition to a significant additional explanation being shared by environmental variables and zone (10%) and by the exclusive explanation of environmental variables (13%).Understand the way that each taxonomic group responds to environmental variables and the spatial structure simultaneously could be an important tool to help decision-making related to the conservation of aquatic ecosystem in different scales.

In recent years, despite the many advances achieved through research on insect conservation,
the worsening decline in populations of countless species has worried scientists and cast doubt
on the effectiveness of government policies and actions aimed at species conservation,
especially when more than ¾ of the insect richness cataloged is still totally unknown as to the
roles played in the functioning or maintenance of the stability of natural ecosystems. Sphex
ingens Smith, 1856 is one of 147 species of Sphecidae with confirmed occurrence for some
areas of the Neotropical Region, and there has never been an effort to clarify basic questions of
its natural history, such as predatory behavior, dispersive capacity and the influence of
environmental variables on the selection of habitats, and distribution. Therefore, this study
aimed at assessing the ecology and behavior of the digger wasp S. ingens in order to propose
actions for the conservation of the species in Brazil and to direct future research. The specific
objectives focused on: (1) to evaluate the predation ecology of S. ingens through the predatorprey relationships, and the behaviors related to the prey-carrying mechanism; (2) to analyze the
extent of the flight capacity of S. ingens; (3) to investigate which variables in the physical
structure of the habitat are predictors in the models of the habitat selection; and (4) to model
the potential geographic distribution of S. ingens in South America, considering the influence
of climatic and elevation variables, in addition to assessing the degree of protection offered by
the Brazilian conservation units on the areas where the species is likely to occur. The ecology
and predatory behavior of S. ingens were recorded in the field during expeditions to three
locations in the municipality of Angra dos Reis-RJ. Moreover, 235 individuals were capturedmarked-released to measure flight capacity at distances tests. The predictions for habitat
selection were modeled after the inclusion of 15 variables of the habitat structure and their
relationship with three landscape sizes in 93 areas visited on the continent and Ilha Grande (RJ);
and records obtained in the field, in indexed databases, specialized works, and in entomological
collections were used to model the potential distribution of the species according to the
environmental variables and to estimate the protection received by the populations in
conservation unit. The analysis of predatory behavior confirmed a high predisposition to
specialization in capturing two species of Pseudophylinae katydids, Meroncidius spp. and Pleminia vicina (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae), which is probably an important mortality factor for
these prey populations. Besides, female tree climbing behavior can be an important strategy for
reducing bird kleptoparasitism during nest supply and/or energy savings during prey transport.
Flight ability tests, identify that the species can fly long distances (e.g., 4,5 km or 63.5 km2
flight area). The models of habitat selection predicted that in small landscapes (3.5 km2), the
size of the nesting areas and the non-waterproofed surface significantly influence the choice of
the species for areas that will serve as nesting sites, while the presence of watercourses and the
anthropic environment are the main predictive variables in landscapes with 63.5 km2. Along
the analyzed stretch of Angra dos Reis, S. ingens showed an aggregated distribution pattern and
restricted to certain habitats. In Brazil, more precisely the Atlantic Forest, concentrates 96.4%
of the habitats suitable for S. ingens (i.e., 50,845.5 km2) in relation to the whole of South
America. However, in the case of Brazil, only 20.2% of the areas where the species is likely to
occur are officially protected by conservation units. In general, the ecological and behavioral
patterns found for S. ingens were consistent and elucidated some questions about the natural
history of the species, although it does not exclude the need for further research to consolidate
bioecological information relevant to the management of its populations and habitats. Certainly,
the information gathered reinforces that the species requires an urgent priority assessment in
terms of conservation threat status. Also, the inclusion of S. ingens in the list of threatened
species would be of great strategic value for short-term conservation in terms of preventive
protection, while understanding other aspects of natural history requires more details.

Although canids are from a very heterogeneous family, they can be commonly separated into two distinct types: the dogs, wolves and jackals and the foxes and graxains. As important species in the modulation of the structuration of biological communities, they are frequently found in breeders and zoos. The aim of this study was to characterize the morphology of the penis of C. thous and L. gymnocercus in order to provide information that can help the reproductive management in captivity and favor the clinical conduct involving this organ as well as to contribute to comparative animal morphology. For this, fourteen cadavers, males and adults (seven C. thous and seven L. gymnocercus) were used. After the animals were placed in the right lateral decubitus position, and their chest wall was dissected to access to the thoracic aorta, which was properly cannulated for fixation with a 10% formaldehyde solution. Afterwards, the animals were dissected and anatomical regions, as well as the static structures of the penis of both species, were registered and identified. For the macroscopic characterization, two penises from each animal were cut at different regions for examination under a stereoscopic microscope: a sagittal and a transverse section. The remaining ten penises from cleaved region of the penis body (5 of each species) were subjected to routine histological technique for embedding in paraffin. From each sample, 5 slices with 5 micrometers of thickness each fragment were used and stained with hematoxylin-eosin, Mallory’s trichrome, Orcein and Picrosirius red method. The smooth muscle cells were ideitify by immunohistochemistry using anti-alpha-actin antibody. The results revealed that pênis of both species possess a fibroelastic histoarchitecture in contrast to described in the current literature for carnivores. As the anatomical regions of the penises, root, body and glans were identified. Penile areas (total penile area, corpus cavernosum area, corpus spongiosum area and luminal area of the urethra) were measured. The luminal area of the urethra of C. thous and L. gymnocercus measured 0.089 ± 0.048, and 0.095 ± 0.037, respectively (P = 0.8177). Total area of the penis in C. thous was 26.981 ± 4.842 while in L. gymnocercus was 20.228 ± 5.245 (P = 0.0673). In addition, the corpus cavernosum area of C. thous was significantly larger (9.929 ± 2.607) than that of L. gymnocercus (6.083 ± 1.048) (P = 0.0156). The corpus spongiosum area of L. gymnocercus was significantly larger (2.068 ± 0.424) when compared to C. thous (1.520 ± 0.188) (P = 0.0297). The histochemical and immunohistochemical results revealed a fibroelastic histoarchitecture, in contrast to descritions observed in the current literature for carnivores Thus, this research can contribute to the understanding of the reproductive behavior of these carnivores, in addition to helping to improve the management of animals in captivity, as well as contributing to improve clinical conduct in supporting the diagnosis of penile diseases

Each year, the impacts caused by human activities on the environment increase.
Human activities cause disturbances due to the intense manufacture and consumption of
synthetic products, chemical compounds, mining, and environmental accidents involving 

pollutants. Nevertheless, inadequate solid waste management, demographic, industrial and
tourist growth, inadequate public sanitation policies, result in favourable scenarios for
environmental contamination, especially in marine environments. Coastal areas have dense
population density, marinas, ports, sewage channels and intense tourist activity, which
aggravates contamination by macro, micro litter and chemical compounds. These contaminants
interact with the biota, where different groups of organisms are physiologically impacted.
About this topic, there are diverse methodologies applied to litter and microplastics (MPs)
studies. Regarding litter, many methodologies used in studies are biased, consequently the
analyses and results are imprecise. As a result, Chapter I approaches methodological concepts
usually used to ecological works, in the analysis of litter collected in Sydney Harbour.
Simulations of different sizes and numbers of sampling units (transects or quadracts) were
performed and the impact of these units on sample precision was calculated. It is noticed that
the choice and definition of sampling design directly reflects on the precision of the litter
sampling. This is a baseline for future studies on the subject and the consequent production of
more precise studies and analyses, not only applicable to litter. Still on methods, Chapter II
reviews and describes methodologies applied to the study of microplastics in crustaceans. This
review included all papers about MP in crustaceans published up to March 2021. In addition
to description of methods, this work supports studies involving MPs in invertebrates, since it
presents criticisms and limitations about methods used so far. Finally, as a case study, Chapter
III analyses the contamination of MPs in different benthic organisms of the coast of Rio de
Janeiro. Contamination was analysed in natural substrate, algae, sponges, and sea squirts,
concomitantly related to MP ingestion by epibiont amphipods. Macroalgae are more
contaminated by MP, as well as their associated organisms. Sponges and ascidians have
different filtering process that influence the accumulation of MP in tissue, as well as its
availability to associated organisms. MPs are considered ecosystem compounds and these
results report the transference of this contamination in different benthic ecological levels and
in sites not previously analysed.

Shallow water estuarine environments have many habitats that favor colonization and
use by different fish species. These coastal ecosystems are undergoing increasingly
impacts resulting from industrial and urban developments in their surroundings,
resulting in a growing loss of biodiversity, which may be accompanied by the losses of
important ecological functions. Investigating the patterns and processes that act on
biodiversity is essential to obtain a more view of the dynamics and roles of communities
in the ecosystems, and for this, short and long-term studies are essential. Studies have
mainly addressed the taxonomic structure, requiring a more integrated approach, aiming
to understand the dynamics and roles of functional groups in space and time. The
present study, divided into two chapters, aims to understand the spatiotemporal
dynamics of the ichthyofauna of shallow areas in a tropical bay in a growing process of
environmental change, exploring taxonomic and functional aspects. In chapter 1, we
seek to describe the relationship between beta diversity and environmental
heterogeneity, in order to test the hypothesis that environmental heterogeneity
influences biodiversity. A weak positive relationship between environmental
heterogeneity and beta diversity was detected, suggesting that more heterogeneous
environments tend to have greater variations in biological composition. In Chapter 2,
we assess temporal changes (1983-1985, 1999-2001, and 2017-2019) in taxonomic and
functional indices. Previous studies have already reported a decline in the fish richness
in the shallow areas of Sepetiba Bay, but the investigation of how the functional groups
have been affected has not yet been investigated. We tested the hypothesis that
functional diversity indices also changed over time, as a result of environmental
changes in the recent decades. We found a substantial decrease in species richness and
abundance in more recent periods compared to 1983-1985. However, the functional
structure remained relatively stable, with the exception of functional richness, which
showed a significant decrease, indicating an impact on the amount of functional space
occupied by the local community, so that some of the resources potentially available to
the community were no longer used. The stability observed in the functional descriptors
can be explained by the fact that estuarine environments tend to have high functional
redundancy due to the restrictions imposed by the marked environmental gradient,
which can result in the convergence of functional traits between species, ensuring that,
despite losses in richness and abundance of species, the main functions can be
maintained. The information obtained in this study confirms that the use of functional
indices is essential to complement taxonomic assessments, giving a detailed view of the
extent of biodiversity loss in impacted environments.

The Brazilian fauna of semi-aquatic bugs (Insecta: Heteroptera: Gerromorpha)
is poorly known in most of the national territory, with sampling and studies
concentrated on northern and southeastern regions, while the northeastern is
still underexplored. This is especially evident when analyzing the states of
Alagoas and Sergipe, where only three species have been recorded so far. The
present study aims to increase our knowledge on the diversity and distribution
of Gerromorpha from Alagoas and Sergipe by obtaining specimens, recording
new occurrences, elaborating lists of species, generating models of potential
distribution, and determining key areas for sampling or conservation. A total of
2,792 specimens were collected, belonging to 39 described species, 16 genera
and five families. Among them, 31 represent new records from Alagoas and 32
from Sergipe. Ecological niche modelling was performed only for species with at
least ten occurrence localities within the study area. Therefore, eleven species
were analyzed: Mesovelia mulsanti White, 1879, Me. amoena Uhler, 1894
(Mesoveliidae); Limnogonus aduncus Drake &amp; Harris, 1930, Brachymetra
albinervus (Amyot &amp; Serville, 1843), Rheumatobates crassifemur schroederi
Hungerford, 1954 (Gerridae); Rhagovelia tenuipes Champion, 1898, R. whitei
(Breddin, 1898), Platyvelia brachialis (Stål, 1860), Microvelia venustatis Drake &amp;
Harris, 1933, Mi. quieta Drake &amp; Carvalho, 1954, and Mi. pulchella Westwood,
1834 (Veliidae). Species occurrence was related to environmental suitability
and compared to biomes of the mesorregions of Alagoas and Sergipe, and of
their federal conservation units. Potential species richness was also related to
lotic and lentic systems. The study shows that a lot of work is still needed in
order to know in more detail the geographic distribution of semi-aquatic
heteropterans from the states of Alagoas and Sergipe, and of the country as a
whole.

Very little is known about the diversity of species of Amphipoda Latreille, 1816, for oceanic
islands in Brazil. This dissertation describes a new species of the genus Pariphinotus Kunkel,
1910, family Phliantidae Stebbing, 1899, which is distinguished from other similar species by
presenting the following characters: Pleopod 3 with two coupling setae to the peduncle, uropod
1, peduncle not exceeding the distal margin of telson and the latest with subacute distal margin.
This is the second species of the genus known from Brazil and the first recorded from the
Fernando de Noronha Archipelago. The first record of the circuntropical species Synopia
ultramarina Dana, 1853, is also made for the archipelago. Previously, this species was
registered in Brazilian waters only for the states of Bahia and Espírito Santo. However,
additional material was examined, in addition to Fernando de Noronha, also for the coast of the
states of Ceará and Pernambuco. Morphological variations were observed between populations,
based on the material studied and previous descriptions of the same species in the literature. In
addition to these two species, Cymadusa filosa Savigny,1816, of the family Ampithoidae
Boeck, 1871, Gibberosus myersi (McKinney, 1980), of the family Megaluropidae Thomas &
Barnard, 1986, and Mayerella sp., family Caprellidae Leach, 1814, are also registered for the
first time for the Archipelago of Fernando de Noronha. Finally, an additional record of the species Elasmopus longipropodus Senna & Souza-Filho, 2011, of the family Maeridae Krapp-Schickel, 2008, is the only one among the examined material previously known from the location. The material examined comes from the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, state of Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil, and was collected by SCUBA diving, from rhodoliths beds, from the Ressureta channel, between Meio and Rata Islands. Additional material was collected off the coast of the state of Ceará, during environmental consultancies coordinated by Petrobras S. A., and off the coast of the state of Pernambuco, during the REVIZEE NE Project.

Serpulidae is a diverse group of tubeworms, easily recognized by the calcareous
tube and bright-colored radiolar crown. Traditionally, the identification of species in the
group has focused on characteristics of the tube and, mainly, the operculum modified
from one of the crown radioles, present in most genera. In Brazil, 46 species were
registered until 2020, of which only nine were originally described in Brazilian territory.
The objective of the present study was to carry out a new taxonomic study of the family
on the Brazilian coast and to search for new characters useful in the identification of
species. Sampling was made punctually in the intertidal region on states at the northeast,
southeast and south regions of Brazil, on different substrates; the specimens were
anesthetized with menthol, fixed with 4% formalin and kept in flasks with 70% ethyl
alcohol. Additionally, specimens deposited in scientific collections at UFRRJ, UFAL,
UERJ, and UFRJ National Museum were analyzed. A total of 26 species belonging to 13
genera were analyzed, five of them being new occurrences for the Brazilian coast and one
corresponding to a new species in the genus Spirobranchus. The knowledge about the
Serpulidae family in Brazil has been extended in 11%, and structures of the animals'
morphology were discussed, as they are not usually used in the group's taxonomy, but
present great potential to refine the identification process of genera and species of
serpulids.

Lipid storage in the form of triacylglycerol (TAG) is essential during the
insect life cycle, as it enables body transformation during the pupal stage and supports
energy expenditure during the early phase of adult life and reproductive maturation. The
lipolytic activity of the brummer (bmm) lipase facilitates the insect energy system
homeostasis. We observed the relationship between bmm lipase and lipid storage
in Aedes aegypti larvae and adults. The bmm sequence was identified in A. aegypti,
exhibiting a patatin-like phospholipase domain, reinforced by the presence of a catalytic
dyad with serine and aspartate residues, revealing a high degree of similarity with other
organisms. The bmm expression was differentiated in the larval phase and the adult
animal fat bodies, following the TAG reserve dynamic. In larval stages L3, L4, and
pupa, Bmm was expressed three times as much compared to stages L1 and L2. In the
post-emergence (PE) and post-blood-meal (PBM) fat body of adult animals, the
expression varied over several days. When post-emergence adult animals fasted,
without sucrose, a very pronounced increase was observed from the third day onwards
when compared to animals that did not fast. A significant decrease in the levels of TAG
from the third day, which suggests Brummer’s participation in the process. Six hours
after blood feeding, the levels of TAG increased suggesting a process of lipid reserve
accumulation to guarantee oogenesis and reproduction. The bmm in A. aegypti responds
positively to fasting and regulates the mobilization of TAG reserves in adult
mosquitoes&#39; fat bodies.

Acoustic repertoires may change in temporal and spatial scale, and may present
changes influenced by the creation of new social alliances, changes in soudscape or
geographical. Thus, the goal of this study is to evaluate the spatial and temporal changes
in the acoustic repertoire of the Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis). This study is based
on a dataset of acoustic recordings in Sepetiba Bay from 1998 to 2002, new recordings
from 2015 to 2018 in Sepetiba Bay and in 2017 and 2018 in Ilha Grande Bay. Temporally,
changes in the acoustic parameters of whistles, frequency contours and signature whistles
were compared. Spatially, frequency contours were compared between populations of
Sepetiba and Ilha Grande bays. Still in spatial scale, the influence of anthropogenic noise
and environmental variables on the acoustic parameters and occurrence was modeled.
Temporally, the Guiana dolphin's repertoire may be stable for about 20 years. However,
over time, there was a reduction in the diversity of whistles, a reduction in the duration
of emissions, a reduction of over 90% in whistle rate, and an increase in the maximum
and minimum frequencies. In the spatial comparison between bays we identified 180
frequency contours in the population of Ilha Grande Bay and 53 in the population of
Sepetiba Bay. The geographical variations observed are not only in the types of whistles
emitted, but also in the diversity of the repertoires and their low sharing. Modeling
indicated that Guiana dolphins vocalize more, with longer and more complex whistles in
less noisy habitats. However, there is no change in the pattern of occurrence regarding
noise levels, but due to environmental variables. Between bays it is still unclear the
reasons that promote differences in acoustic diversity. However, both the temporal
variation and the predicted by the spatial scale models indicate that the Guiana dolphin
presents an acoustic behavior response similar to the anthropogenic noise level. However,
environmental variables were more important than noise levels for occurrence.

The black-horned capuchin, Sapajus nigritus, is a Neotropical primate with a wide distribution in the Atlantic Forest (AF), from southeast Brazil to Misiones, Argentina. The species presents phenotypic and genetic diversity, often associated with geographical patterns. The coat coloration varies with intrapopulation differences, with transition in the predominance from black to brown, in the south-north distribution. Cytogenetic analysis in populations from Argentina showed a specific polymorphism in the chromosome pair 11. While in most Sapajus’ species this pair is the largest acrocentric, with a terminal extracentromeric heterochromatic (HC) block, in S. nigritus in these populations the total deletion of HC is described. However, the terminal He block has already been demonstrated in specimens from RJ. In addition to this polymorphism, phylogenetic data demonstrate paraphyly among samples from RJ and other localities along the distribution. These variations may correspond to a pattern of phylogeographic discontinuity described in AF at SP, associated to forest refuges occurring in Pleistocene. The objective of this study was to analyze the phenotypic and genetic diversity of S. nigritus in SP and RJ, investigating the coat patterns, the distribution of He in the par 11 and the molecular diversity in the state of RJ, comparing it with other localities. Individuals from five populations in the RJ state were analyzed: Ilha da Marambaia (IM), Reserva Biológica de Poço das Antas (RBPA), Parque Nacional do Itatiaia (PNI), da Tijuca (PNT) and da Serra dos Órgãos (PARNASO); as well as ex situ specimens from Guaratiba/RJ (Gua) and cities of São Paulo: capital (cSP), São José dos Campos (SJC), São Sebastião (SS), Paraibuna (PB) and Campos do Jordão (CJ). Specimens of S. nigritus at the Museu Nacional do Rio de Janeiro (MNRJ), from Angra dos Reis, Itatiaia, Paraty and Teresópolis, were included in the phenotypic analysis. Coloration of the back, belly, limbs, tail and face were evaluated. The presence and distribution of He were analyzed using classical and molecular cytogenetic techniques. The phylogenetic relationships were inferred based on the mitochondrial genes cytochrome c oxidase I, II and cytochrome b, including sequences available in GenBank®. In 49 individuals captured, six ex situ and eight MNRJ specimens were identified brown (n=37) and black (n=26) coat patterns, with intrapopulation variation, predominating black to the west (PNI and MNRJ) and brown to the east (IM and PNT). The association of this finding with the predominance of the black pattern described in an SP population confirms the black-brown variation in the SP-RJ distribution. The pair 11 with the deletion of HC was identified in the samples to the east (IM, Gua, PNT, PARNASO and RBPA), while to the west both patterns were identified, without (cSP, CJ and SS) and with (SJC, PB and PNI) He block. Molecular divergence was observed between the samples from RJ and those from SP, PR and Argentina, including the PNI, forming paraphyletic clades. The intraspecific diversity observed in S. nigritus may represent an evolutionary significant unit (ESU) and confirm the sampled region as a phylogeographic discontinuity point for the species.

Gerromorpha display two phenomena well studied in temperate areas: alary polymorphism, in
some species individuals can be apterous, micropterous, brachypterous, or macropterous, with
different forms coexisting in a same population; and the variation of somatic characteristics
between males and females, which can be relate to sexual conflict. Rhagovelia robusta Gould,
1931 is a species where both phenomena are evident. Thus, the present dissertation aims to
define the relations between alary and sexual dimorphism in R. robusta, as well as the role of
environmental factors in the determination of alary forms. We evaluated patterns of shape and
size in different alary forms and sexes of R. robusta and the relations between alary and sexual
dimorphisms. Our results shows the significant variations on certain structures between males
and females, as well as between males of different alary forms. Males presents allometric
modifications on the pronotum and posterior femur, and appear are integrated to each other.
Such integration is tied to the adaptive responses to the needs for dispersal and reproduction.
Subsequently, we analyzed how environmental factors influence the abundance of alary forms
of R. robusta. Our results show that different climatic conditions, occurring during the
developing period of the individuals, influence the abundance of the alate morphotype. A
higher abundance is associated to higher mean temperatures and rainy seasons, while it is
negatively affected by lower temperatures and dry seasons. These results reflect the adaptation
of the species, through the different morphotypes, to the variable resource availability through
time. During dry seasons, the environment is more homogeneous and there are less resources,
thus it is less viable to invest in the flight apparatus and the costs involved in the dispersion.
On the other hand, the apterous males that are proportionally more abundant during these
periods have higher copulation capacity, ensuring a higher reproduction rate and the continuity
of the species in the habitat. During high pluviosity seasons, with higher heterogeneity and
resource availability, it is possible to invest more in the development of alate individuals and
in the dispersion to new areas.

Rocky shores are ecosystems of great species richness, abundance and endemism of benthic
organisms; polychaeta is one of the most abundant and diverse, occurring in microhabitats
and forming associations with other organisms as algal tufts and mussel banks. The present
study is the first work with high taxonomic resolution of polychaeta associated with the rocky
shores in Sepetiba Bay, including different microhabitats and a large sample. The aim of that
study is comparing the species richness, composition and abundance of polychaetes
associated with algal tufts and mussel banks in five places in Sepetiba Bay, as well as, to
identify and inventory polychaetes associated with rocky shores. Algal tufts, in general,
exhibit higher species richness than mussel banks; however, mussel banks had higher
similarity than algal tufts. No exclusive species were detected for each environments.
Including all sampling points, algal tufts from Praia do Sino presented the highest species
richness. In total 62 species were sampling, the most abundant were Naineris aurantiaca,
Timarete caribous and Pseudonereis sp. Among the species found four are new records for
the Brazilian coast, one new record for the southeast region and 33 are new records for the
Sepetiba Bay, besides another important result to the redescription of N. aurantiaca. The
present work to increase the knowledge about the polychaetes species in associations with
rocky shores and allowed to detect some species that involve complicated taxonomic
questions and are potential new species for the science.

The development of easy-to-observe measures of successful restoration is essential for
monitoring from ambitious goals proposed by the global restoration (eg Bonn
Challenge, New York Declaration on Forests). Among the arthropods, ants have a long
history of environmental monitoring. An important task of ecological studies is to
understand and quantify environmental factors that influence species distribution. Ants
compose a large proportion of biomass in ecosystems; and has a long history of
environmental monitoring. Therefore, the general objective of this work is to analyze
the effects of tree species used for the restoration of degraded soils in the structure of
the ants assembly and their effects along the restoration time gradient. Initially we did a
meta-analysis with global works that approach ants as bioindicators in areas with
different stages of succession. As a second step, we sampled ants under a total of 46
individuals in four target species (23 leguminous and 23 not-leguminous). As a result of
the meta - analysis, the recovery of ant diversity was faster in tropical than in temperate
ecosystems. Restoration of ant functional groups occurred faster than species richness.
Trends in species composition and functional groups were less predictable than in
species richness and functional groups. According to the second chapter, functional
species and groups of trees influenced the arthropod community, but did not influence
the ant community.

The Atlantic Forest is one of the most diverse biomes in the world. It is estimated that a total
of 1,361 species of vertebrates, among which 567 are endemic, this fact associated to the great
fragmentation of its territory, leads to the classification of a hotspot, with priority area for
conservation. Brazil, as a whole, contains a vast diversity of birds, with almost two thousand
species, being the second most diverse group in its territory. The main strategies for the
conservation of Brazilian biodiversity are focused on the creation and maintenance of
conservation units. Currently, RPPNs are considered a great possibility of expansion of the
SNUC, since it is a category that integrates civil society and because it can be easily created,
as well as presenting high rates of conservation positives. Therefore, the main objective of
this work was to inventory the species of birds present in the Private Reserve of the Natural
Heritage of Porangaba and its surroundings. And the specific objectives, related to the
Reserve and its surroundings, were: to estimate the richness of the bird fauna; describe the
composition of the bird community; determine species abundance; to classify the species of
birds in relation to their trophic guilds; analyze the conservation of avifauna according to
dependence on forest habitats, the degree of endemism and the risk of extinction of the
species. The present study was developed in the Porangaba Natural Heritage Private Reserve,
with an area of 84.4 hectares, located in the city of Itaguaí, RJ. Data collection took place
between May and December 2018. Two complementary methodologies, Mackinnon lists and
fog networks were adopted for the survey of the avifauna. The birds are classified according
to: trophic guilds; forest dependency; endemism; conservation status. In total, 162 bird
species were registered in the RPPN area and in their surroundings, distributed in 47 families
and 21 orders. The five most representative families, that is, with the largest number of
species, were: Thraupidae (18); Tyrannidae (18); Trochilty (12); Thamnophilicity (8);
Psittacity (8). The average richness did not differ between dry and rainy seasons. The majority
(37%) of the bird species recorded at the study site belonged to the insectivorous guild,
followed by omnivores. Six species of the study site are classified as almost endangered at
international level (IUCN). Amazona rhodocorytha is also threatened at the state and national
level. Regarding species restricted to a specific biome, 42 bird species from the study site
were classified as endemic to the Atlantic Forest. Additional research, with an even longer
collection period, is likely to indicate a greater richness of bird species. The present study
demonstrates the importance of Conservation Units, in particular the RPPN, for the
preservation of avifauna.

The collared anteater, Tamandua tetradactyla Linnaeus, 1758 (Pilosa:
Myrmecophagidae), is a small mammal predator of ants and termites. Using its nose to
locate and its claws to break the structure of the colonies, this animal is able to capture
its prey with the tongue. Despite of the knowledge about its diet, there are few studies
describing which species are actually consumed by these mammals. The aim of this
study was to investigate the diversity and abundance of insect species in the collared
anteater diet and verify if there is any pattern. To evaluate that, eight samples of
stomach contents of T. tetradactyla, roadkilled on the BR-040 highway between the
cities of Duque de Caxias (RJ) and Simão Pereira (MG), were collected from 2009 to
2014 and analyzed. Stomach contents were removed and preserved in 70% ethanol until
analyzed under a stereomicroscope and identified at the lowest taxonomic level
possible. A total of 22,832 specimens were obtained, distributed in 54 insect taxa of
three orders: Blattodea (Isoptera), Coleoptera, and Hymenoptera. The most abundant
taxa was Isoptera, represented mainly by the genus Nasutitermes Dudley, 1890 with
12,352 specimens found. To compare the similarity in species composition among the
eight samples, we used the Jaccard’s test, which showed low similarity between them,
suggesting that these collared anteaters eat without any apparent pattern, but according
to their individual preferences. However, three species were common among the
samples: Camponotus atriceps (Smith, 1858), C. rufipes (Fabricius, 1775) and
Cephalotes pusillus (Klug, 1824). Such species are very common in areas of the
Atlantic Forest disturbed by human activities, such as cities and roads. Total
precipitation in the month of collection was positively correlated with the richness of
insect species, suggesting that this factor influences the richness of food sources
available for the mammals.

The construction of reservoirs, blocking the lotic systems, creates physical barriers that
alter the flow regime and create new physic-chemical conditions in the new
environment, besides acting as a barrier, preventing the free migration of aquatic
organisms. The lentic environment also facilitates the introduction of non-native fish
species, causing local extinction of a large number of fish species, especially those
more specialized and less susceptible to new environmental conditions. The increasing
number of reservoirs in tropical rivers is threatening aquatic biodiversity on an
unprecedented scale, posing a major challenge for fish populations, especially for large
migrators. The objective of this work was to evaluate and compare fish assemblages in
eight reservoirs with different hydro-environmental configurations, associated to the
Paraíba do Sul river basin: 1) reservoirs that bar the main RPS channel; 2) Reservoir in
cascade derived from waater abstraction from RPS and, 3) reservoirs isolates. Three
approaches were used: functional and taxonomic distinction, functional diversity and
trophic modeling. Three approaches were used: functional and taxonomic distinction,
functional diversity and trophic modeling. To evaluate the functional, taxonomic and
functional diversity of the reservoirs, the fish community was sampled monthly in the
summer of 2011 and in the winter of 2017. Thirty measurements in fish (26
quantitative and four categorical), representing functional attributes associated with
locomotion, feeding, life strategy and habitat use were taken in 34 species of the
different reservoirs. The trophic modeling was elaborated only for the Ribeirao das
Lajes Reservoir (RRL), based on monthly sampling (September / 2015 to July / 2017) of
different consumer compartments (birds, zoobenthos and fish) and on available
information on producers, non-fish consumers and detritus. Two models were
constructed for the Ribeirao das Lajes Reservoir, being an annual model, representing
the scenario of high quota in the reservoir (MCA) and another additional model
representing an adverse condition, with reduced water quota in the reservoir (MCB).
Differences were detected in fish assemblages of the different types of reservoirs
(main channel, cascade and isolates). The number of species did not differ among the
reservoirs, except in Tocos, which was significantly smaller when compared to the
other reservoirs (F = 6.9 P <0.001). The highest taxonomic and functional
distinctiviness were found for the isolated reservoirs, and the inverse of this pattern
was found for the reservoirs that bblock the main channel of the Paraíba do Sul river.
This suggests that the fish fauna in these latter types of reservoir is probably composed
of species phylogenetically close and morphologically similar with greater taxonomic
and functional redundancy. The Santana reservoir, the first in the cascade system,
xiii
presented the highest levels of functional diversity, with high richness and functional
uniformity, low originality and high exclusivity. Contrary to the expectations, the Santa
Branca, Funil and Pombos Island reservoirs (built in the main channel of the Paraíba do
Sul River) presented the lowest values of these indices, suggesting high functional
redundancy. Tocos, despite being an isolated reservoir and smaller area, presented the
highest values of divergence and functional specialization. The matter and energy
brought by the inflow water providing a greater habitat diversity in the reservoirs that
block the main channel of the river do not seem to be the most important determinant
factors for the roles developed by the fish in the reservoirs. The models elaborated in
the RRL revealed that the main base compartments (producers) were Leaf-Seeds-Fruits
and Periphyton, surpassing Phytoplankton. The compartments of Selective Birds (NT =
3.8), Generalist Birds (NT = 3.7) and the species of piscivorous fish Hoplias malabaricus
(NT = 3.8) and Cichla spp. (NT = 3.6) presented the highest NTs estimated for the web.
The main key species of the system were generalist birds, and the fish R. quelen and H.
malabaricus. Cichla spp., even not being considered as a key species, presented high
relative biomass and high impact on the web, also showing great relevance for the
ecosystem. No differences were found in the trophic web between MCA and MCB,
with the biomass of some compartments varying between the scenarios modeled. The
Ancestry value was 25.9, with Overhead of 74.2, indicating that the RRL is a mature
ecosystem. Only 34 species were recorded in the eight reservoirs, seven of which were
non-native species (ENN). However, studies recorded the occurrence of 89 fish species
for the lotic stretches of the Paraíba do Sul River, a strong indication that reservoirs
actually act as filters, selecting species with specific attributes and facilitating the
establishment of ENN. Based on this study, it is suggested that the construction of
dams should be done only for the purpose of water supply and irrigation, and that they
do not block the main river channel, in order to avoid drastic influence on the services
provided by these lotic systems, thus contributing to the maintenance of biodiversity.
As an alternative to power generation, investments in clean energy sources are
suggested, but with less impact on the environment.

Mesohabitat heterogeneity of the tropical estuaries influences the patterns of fish richness and diversity, favoring, among other processes, recruitment and niche partitioning, allowing the coexistence of fish species in these ecosystems. The aim of present work is to analyze the different environmental factors of mesohabitats and their influence on the distribution of fish species. he study was carried out in a tropical estuary, located in the northeast of Brazil, and that presents a peculiar characteristic due to the strong influence of the semi-arid
region, because in all its upper extension the river is intermittent, and for that reason there is small contribution from drainage basin arriving to the estuary. Fishes were collected using a beach-seine net during the rainy (June, July and August/2015) and dry (October and November/2015 and January/ 2016) seasons. Samplings were carried out in five mesohabitats present in the estuary: Beaches (PA), Sea grass beds (FM), Tidal mudflats (PM), Mangroves (MA) and Marginal Vegetation (VM). The results showed that Mudflats showed the greast density and biomass of juveniles among the mesohabitats. Salinity is the predictor factor influencing the distribution of the fish assemblages of PA, FM, PM and MA, whereas VM was influenced by MO, coarse sand, chlorophyll and transparency. Density and biomass showed highest values during the rainy season, indicating the importance of this period for the dynamics of estuarine fish assemblages in this region of scarce rains. Species in Marine Dependent Estuary (MED) guild showed numerical abundance, mainly by representatives
of the families Gerreidae and Engraulidae. This abundance of species dependent on the estuary at a certain stage of development emphasizes the importance of this ecosystem as a nursery for several species of economic
and/or ecological importance.

Ecomorphology in fish is the study of the relationships between individuals&#39; body shape
and their ecological function, based on the comparison between patterns of variation in
shape and patterns of variation of morphological attributes such as feeding habits and
niche exploration. Based on this principle, we sought to identify the ecomorphological
patterns related to the shape of the sagittae otoliths, body shape, and diet of species that
make up the fish assemblage of a tropical bay in southeastern Brazil.The ichthyofauna
sampled came from the shrimp trawling, and was dominated by small-sized individuals
(subadults) and comprised 22 species. In the Second Chapter, the cluster analysis on the
contour data of the otoliths (Fourier Ellipses Analysis - EFA) resulted in the
identification of 9 groups. The different otoliths patterns indicate different functions,
from the longer and wider otoliths (associated with greater auditory capacity with
botton foraging) to smaller and narrower otoliths with prominent rostra (associated with
greater swimming capacity and less need for acoustic communication). A significant
correlation was found between the size of the otoliths in relation to the size of the fish
for benthic species and that they have large otoliths (M. furnieri, P. brasiliensis and O.
ruber). For the other species, the size of the otolith did not present consistent change as
function of the size of the individuals that are mostly juveniles. In the Third Chapter, 17
morphometric measurements were taken for the calculation of 10 ecomorphological
attributes, which were used to interpret the life habits and a better understanding of the
adaptations and occupation of different habitat use. The Principal Components Analysis
applied to the ecomorphological attributes allowed the identification of eight groups of
fish. The ecomorphological attributes that most influenced the division of the groups
were compression index (CI), caudal peduncle compression index (ICPCd), relative
height (RA), relative eye position (PRO) and relative head length (CRC). Therefore, the
fish that most differed in this analyses were the Pleuronectiformes (with high bodies
laterally compressed, indicating to be able to vertical displacements with limited
maneuverability) and the Scorpaeniformes (with eyes positioned dorsally and with a
relatively long head indicating benthic habits capable of catching relatively large prey),
suggesting different ways to explore the environment.In the Fourth Chapter, through the
bibliographic survey based on secondary data, it can be concluded that the great
majority of the species studied are carnivorous ichthyophagous (13 species), of which
some practice cannibalism. It was noticiable the use of crustaceans (Decapoda,
Brachyura, Mysidacea), annelids (Polychaeta, Nereidae) and molluscs (Gastropoda,
Bivalvia, Cephalopoda) as food items of almost all species, with the exception of
Engraulidae Cetengraulis edentulus which was the only exclusively herbivorous species
preying on phytoplankton components.This species was isolated from the others in the
three approaches, presenting high values of ARB, ABO and CRPCd, as well as
differentiated otoliths with prominent rostra, dented ventral border and quite different
feeding habits. These characteristics constrain this species to remain in an isolated
group in the three approaches. Gerreidae Eucinostomus gula and Eucinostomus
argenteus presented consistent similarity in both body morphology, otolith morphology
and feeding habits. This consistent similarity was also found for Menticirrhus
americanus and Paralonchurus brasiliensis, which also remained grouped together in
all three approaches.The Pleuronectiformes did not form a consistent group in the 16different approaches, but were always organized in neighboring groups demonstrating acertain level of similarity between them, depending on the level of cut of thedendograms. Cathorops spixii was not used in the otolith morphology approach, but itremained with Orthopristis ruber in the chapters on body morphology and diet. The Sciaenidae stayed together in the body ecomorphology approach (except S. rastrifer) and separated in the ecomorphology approaches of the otoliths and diet, maintainingproximity forming neighboring groups in the dendrograms of the different analyzes. The results demonstrated the existence of an association between body morphology and otoliths, and the life and exploitation habits of resources, particularly those related to food.

The family Phoxocephalidae G. O. Sars, 1891, is one of the most diverse amphipod taxa in terms of taxonomic characters, being grouped in the suborder Amphilochidea Boeck, 1871. The most stable characters that characterize the family include: antennae 1 and 2 haustorioid in shape, with multiarticulate accessory flagellum; gnathopods 1 and 2 chelated or subchelated; relation between shape and size of pereopods 6 and 7 (both posteriorly expanded, adapted to the fossorial habit, but pereopod 7 shorter than pereopod 6); uropod 3 with inner ramus present; and telson deeply cleft. The Phoxocephalidae are benthic, living mostly buried in the substrate, and are widely distributed bathymetrically, being found from shallow waters to the deep sea. The material examined was collected off the Atlantic coast of South America, from north of the state of Rio de Janeiro to Mar del Plata, Argentina, from 1969 to 1972, at depths ranging from 15 to 500 meters. The campaigns were organized by the Instituto Oceanográfico from Universidade de São Paulo (IO-USP), using two research vessels, R/V Almirante Saldanha and R/V Prof. W. Besnard, being the latter, part of the MBT (Mini Biological Trawl) project. All specimens are preserved in ethanol 70% and are be deposited at the Crustacea Collection of the Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ). For the taxonomic study, the appendages and mouthparts were dissected and mounted in glycerin gel slides, drawn under an optical microscope with camera lucida, Motic-BA 310, and digitalized with CorelDRAW 2018. After the analysis of samples from 33 stations, it was possible to identify 19 species of Phoxocephalidae to date, grouped into 8 known genera, plus the description of a new genus belonging to the subfamily Phoxocephalinae. From this total, we described nine new species grouped in the following genera: Cephalophoxoides Gurjanova, 1977; Heterophoxus Shoemaker, 1925; Limnoporeia Fearn-Wannan, 1968; Phoxocephalinae gen. nov; and Pseudharpinia Schellenberg, 1931. The species Metharpinia dentiurosoma, Alonso de Pina, 2003b, M. grandirama Alonso de Pina, 2003b and M. iado Alonso de Pina 2003a, known only for Argentina were recorded for Brazilian waters for the first time. Besides that, the following species had their distribution extended: M. protuberantis Alonso de Pina, 2001; Microphoxus cornutus (Schellenberg, 1931); Mi. uroserratus Bustamante, 2002; Fuegiphoxus abjectus J.L. Barnard & C.M. Barnard, 1980; F. fuegiensis (Schellenberg 1931); P. tupinamba Senna & Souza-Filho, 2011; and Parafoxiphalus longicarpus Alonso de Pina, 2001. Identification keys to the world were created when necessary or updated to all genera of Phoxocephalidae found in the campaigns. Distribution maps were prepared for all new species described using the software QGIS 3.2.1

Hemiptera is one of the main orders of insects and is currently divided in four suborders. Among them, only Heteroptera has representatives intimately related to water bodies, of which those that live primarily submerged belong to the infraorder Nepomorpha. The nepomorphan family Helotrephidae is represented in South America by only the subfamily Neotrephinae, which has two genera: Neotrephes China, 1936e Paratrephes China, 1940.
Studies about these insects in South America are scarse in comparison with other regions. Neotrephes is characterized by the short labium, not reaching to the mid coxae, and has nine valid species: N. fragosus Nieser & Chen, 2002, N. jaczewskii China, 1940,N. lanemeloi Nieser & Chen, 2002, N. latus Nieser & Chen, 2002, N. minutus Nieser & Chen, 2002, N. plaumanni China, 1940, N. transversus Nieser & Chen, 2002,N. usingeri China, 1936,andN. variegatus Nieser & Chen, 2002. For the presente study, more than 1,200 specimens of the genus have been examined, amog which there are holotypes and paratypes. We presente here redescriptions of the genus and its known species, descriptions of three new species, an identification key including all these species, illustrations, several new records, and maps of geographic distribution. Additionaly, we record the occurrence of wide intraspecific chromatic variation and a small number of diagnostic structural features. Therefore, the precise identification of specimens is only possible through the examination of male and female terminalia.